The Football Association took a major step towards radical reform yesterday when the FA Council narrowly voted to approve the recommendations of the Burns Review. In a dramatic ballot that surprised even those closest to the negotiations the council voted by just two votes - 33 to 31 - to approve the most contentious measure, a restructuring of the board that will see the organisation led by an independent chair from 2008.

While this is a watered-down version of Lord Burns' original proposal, which was for three independent directors, it will break the deadlock at board level that has hindered the FA's decision-making process for years. A range of other measures - including expanding the council to include minority groups and supporters - were passed by comfortable margins, and the package of reforms will now go before a meeting of the FA's shareholders in January for ratification.

Approval for an independent chairman, which in the end hinged on the current chairman Geoff Thompson voting to dissolve his own post, was achieved despite a high-risk abstention from members of the professional game.

Concerned that the independent chair would be voted down if it was considered an individual proposal, the Premier League chairman Sir Dave Richards and his Football League counterpart Lord Mawhinney insisted on an all-or-nothing vote on the entire Burns package.

This was defeated by 39 votes to 36, but following an intervention from the FA board member Roger Burnden the meeting decided to reconsider and take each of the major Burns proposals individually. At this point Richards, Mawhinney and the other professional game representatives present abstained en bloc.

After 2½ hours of debate which included an impassioned plea from the FA's chief executive Brian Barwick - who had been under pressure from all sides of the game and government to deliver on the Burns proposals - all measures were passed, to the obvious relief of the FA executive. The sports minister Richard Caborn had threatened to withdraw up to £20m in public funding if they had been rejected and the repercussions from the Premier League and Football League would have been severe.

"I am delighted the FA have taken this decision today," said Caborn. "The changes, particularly breaking the deadlock at board level by appointing an independent chairman, will make a dramatic difference to the way the game is run. Credit to Brian Barwick and Geoff Thompson for getting this through."

The Premier League's chief executive Richard Scudamore and Lord Mawhinney also welcomed the vote. "The Premier League has backed Lord Burns' proposal since day one," said Scudamore. "We now look forward to working with all elements of the FA to ensure the full implementation of Burns, leading to a better- structured, more effective governing body for football as a whole."

Lord Mawhinney said: "It is a result that justifies the enormous amount of work that a lot of us have put in. These reforms provide a sensible way forward for football in this country by providing a workable balance between the interests of the game's various stakeholders."

Attention will now turn to convincing the FA's shareholders, a wider constituency than the council, to endorse the changes to the FA's statutes. One senior figure warned last night that it is far from a done deal, as a 75% majority is required. There was optimism within the executive however that the shareholders would fall in behind the decision of council.

There will be speculation too over the identity of the first independent chair, who will take up the post in 2008 at the end of Thompson's term of office. Lord Burns himself is among the names being touted, as is the economist Kate Barker, a member of the Bank of England's monetary policy committee and chair of the FA's financial advisory committee. There was enthusiasm for her candidature in government circles last night, not least because of the powerful message that the appointment of a woman would send to the wider game.

Key points

1. A restructured board with an independent chair, a vote for the chief executive and five members each from the professional and amateur game.

2. Expansion of FA council to include supporters, players, managers, referees, women and ethnic minority groups.

3. Establish a semi-autonomous Regulation and Compliance Unit

4. Establish a National Game Board and Professional Game Board beneath the main board.